Midseason prospect report

Here’s a little holiday reading for your perusal. Here’s a statistical update on Everett’s prospects. I’ve limited it to players in the 15-17 age range, and I’ve included everyone I’m aware of who’s been on Everett’s protected list at some point since training camp. I’m sure this list is not complete, and I’m sure there are players here who are no longer on Everett’s list. I grouped the players by those who attended training camp and those who didn’t, and then further by the level they’re playing at. Players are listed with their birth year, position, team and statistics.

ATTENDED TRAINING CAMP

JUNIOR A

Justin Baudry, 96 D, Steinbach Pistons, MJHL

33 G, 2-13-15, 24 PM

JUNIOR B

Carter Cochrane, 96, D, Golden Rockets, KIJHL

18 G, 2-5-7, 25 PM

Kyle Raymond, 96, F, Princeton Posse, KIJHL

31 G, 9-12-21, 46 PM

Jan Tesarek, 95, F, Ontario Avalanche, WSHL

8 G, 2-0-2, 4 PM

MIDGET MAJOR

Nik Amundrud, 97, G, Tisdale Trojans, SMAAAHL

15 G, 8-3-1, 3.33, .898

Patrick Bajkov, 97, F, North Island Silvertips, BCMML

22 G, 11-8-19, 12 PM

Kevin Davis, 97, D, Thompson Blazers, BCMML

24 G, 7-7-14, 6 PM

Matt Fonteyne, 97, F, Leduc Oil Kings, AMHL

24 G, 12-14-26, 10 PM

Noah Juulsen, 97, D, Fraser Valley Thunderbirds, BCMML

19 G, 2-9-11, 12 PM

Mario Petit, 97, G, Eastman Selects, MAAAMHL

20 G, 3-15-0, 4.35, .867

Tre Potskin, 95, F, Cariboo Cougars, BCMML

24 G, 2-7-9, 112 PM

Nicholas Pouliot, 96, F, Yorkton Harvest, SMAAAHL

11 G, 2-5-7, 14 PM

Carson Richards, 97, F, Thompson Blazers, BCMML

16 G, 3-5-8, 34 PM

Taylor Sanheim, 96, F, Yellowhead Chiefs, MAAAMHL

31 G, 22-23-45, 56 PM

Lucas Skrumeda, 96, D, Winnipeg Thrashers, MAAAMHL

27 G, 1-16-17, 14 PM

Jordan Wharrie, 97, D, Vancouver NE Chiefs, BCMML

24 G, 1-1-2, 16 PM

Michael Wirth, 97, F, Pembina Valley Hawks, MAAAMHL

27 G, 1-4-5, 14 PM

MIDGET MINOR

Jake Durflinger, 97, F, Arizona Bobcats, U.S. midget minor

n/a

Dylan France, 96, G, SSAC Don Wheaton, NAMHL

5-4-0, 3.43, .894

Desmond Nevin, 97, D, Central Plains Capitals, Winnipeg AAA

10 G, 0-0-0, 16 PM

Arsh Shergill, 97, D, Abbotsford Hawks, PCAHA

n/a

NOT AT TRAINING CAMP

JUNIOR A

Clint Lewis, 95, D, U.S. NTDP U-18

31 G, 0-5-5, 17 PM

Mitch Skapski, 96, F, Chilliwack Chiefs, BCHL

29 G, 3-5-8, 39 PM

MIDGET MAJOR

Josh Blanchard, 96, F, Okanagan Rockets, BCMML

24 G, 24-21-45, 6 PM

Connor James, 96, D, Lloydminster Bobcats, AMHL

24 G, 9-15-24, 24 PM

MIDGET MINOR

Austin Mathews, 97, F, Arizona Bobcats, U.S. midget minor

n/a

Alec Mehr, 97, F, L.A. Jr. Kings, U.S. midget minor

23 G, 8-10-18, 6 PM

Daniel Woolfenden, 97, D, Culver Academy, U.S. midget minor

n/a

Here’s some notes on the above players:

– The players who we know have signed education contracts with Everett are Raymond, Davis and Amundrud, so they’re committed to the Tips. Raymond and Davis are both expected to be called up at the beginning of the second half as the Tips will be missing a handful of players to international tournaments.

– Blanchard and James are two recent additions to Everett’s protected list — Blanchard’s listing by Everett was announced by his team via Twitter, James showed up on Alan Caldwell’s list of WHL prospects playing at the Mac’s Midget Tournament. Both are late birthdate 16-year-olds who are playing midget major for the first time, both are small (Blanchard is listed at 5-foot-6, James at 5-foot-8), and both are putting up big numbers. Blanchard leads the BCMML in goals, while James is the only defenseman among the top scorers in the AMHL. Blanchard was originally a Portland bantam draft pick, James was not drafted. I think it’s telling that the first two 16-year-olds listed by Everett in Garry Davidson’s first full season in charge, at least that I’m aware of, both seem to be small, skilled players. I have no idea whether either is interested in playing in the WHL, though Blanchard now identifies himself as a Silvertips prospect on his Twitter page.

– The additions of Blanchard and James give Everett quite the stable of 1996-born players. Four (forwards Tyler Sandhu, Ty Mappin and Dawson Leedahl, defenseman Micheal Zipp) are already on Everett’s roster. Baudry is playing very well as a 16-year-old in junior A and earned a spot on Team West for the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. Raymond and Cochrane appear to be holding their own playing junior B. Sanheim, Blanchard and James are all scoring for fun at the major-midget level. And if the Tips can ever convince Skapski to commit, it’s as deep a group of Tips prospects in one age group I can remember since the Great 88s.

– With all the leagues taking a break for Christmas, the Mac’s Midget Tournament is next up for several of these prospects. Potskin, Fonteyne, James, Blanchard and Amundrud are all on teams that are playing in the tourney, which begins Wednesday.

– I’ll also be keeping an eye on the Richmond International Midget Hockey Tournament, which begins Thursday. Bajkov, Davis, Richards, Shergill, Mathews and Durflinger are on teams participating in that tournament. I’m particularly interested to see how Mathews and Durflinger perform, since I have no other information on them.

– On a side note, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reported that Leedahl will not play in the U-17 World Hockey Challenge because of the knee injury he suffered Dec. 11 at Tri-City.